{{Short description|Coal-fired power station in Indiana, US}} {{More citations needed|date=February 2018}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox power station |name = Rockport Generating Station |image = Rockport Generating Station.jpg |image_caption = Rockport Generating Station as seen from near the Natcher Bridge |country = United States |location = Ohio Township, Spencer County, Indiana |status = O |coordinates = {{coord|37|55|32|N|87|02|02|W|region:US-IN_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} |owner = Indiana-Michigan Power |th_fuel_primary = Sub-bituminous coal |ps_cooling_source = Ohio River |ps_cooling_towers = 2 × Natural Draft |th_technology = Steam turbine |ps_combined_cycle = |ps_units_operational = 2 × 1300 MW |ps_electrical_cap_fac = 48.0% (2017) |ps_annual_generation = 10,923 GWh (2017) <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/browser/#/plant/6166|title=Electricity Data Browser}}</ref> |commissioned = Unit 1: December 1984<br/>Unit 2: December 1988 |decommissioned = Unit 1: 2028 ''(planned)''<br>Unit 2: 2028 ''(planned)'' |ps_electrical_capacity = 2600 }}
'''Rockport Generating Station''' is a coal-fired power plant located along the Ohio River in Ohio Township, Spencer County, Indiana, in the United States, near Rockport. The power plant is located along U.S. Route 231 (segment known as the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Parkway), approximately {{Convert|1|mi|sp=us|spell=in}} north of the William H. Natcher Bridge, spanning the Ohio River. It is operated by Indiana Michigan Power, a subsidiary of American Electric Power.
==History== Two identical non-cyclonic Babcock & Wilcox units (1,300 MW each<ref>[http://www.mesotheliomasymptoms.com/rockport-power-plant Rockport Power Plant on mesotheliomasymptoms.com]</ref>) were launched into service in December 1984 and December 1988. They are among the largest coal units built. The plant is connected to the grid by 765 kilovolt transmission lines (the highest rated voltage used in the United States).<ref>{{cite web| title = Existing Electric Generating Units in the United States, 2006 | publisher = Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy | year = 2006 | url = http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/page/capacity/capacity.html | format = Excel | access-date = July 14, 2008}}</ref> The power plant features the tallest smokestack in Indiana, and is one of the tallest smokestacks in the world at {{convert|316.4|m|disp=flip}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.powermag.com/top-plants-rockport-power-plant-rockport-indiana/|title=Top Plants: Rockport Power Plant, Rockport, Indiana|last=Neville|first=Angela|publisher=POWER Magazine|date=October 1, 2009|access-date=July 21, 2019}}</ref>
==Coal supply== The coal is delivered to the plant by barges along the Ohio River.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}} The plant burns in excess of seven million short tons of coal a year. To minimize cost, AEP announced in February 2018 that Rockport will rely solely on coal from the Powder River Basin in Wyoming.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.platts.com/latest-news/coal/louisville-kentucky/aep-units-rockport-plant-in-indiana-to-switch-21427594|title=AEP unit's Rockport plant in Indiana to switch almost entirely to PRB coal|last=Matyi|first=Bob|publisher=Platts|date=February 27, 2018|access-date=February 28, 2018}}</ref>
==Retirement== In July 2019, AEP announced that Rockport's Unit 1 will retire by the end of 2028. This was made in an agreement modification between AEP, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), several northeastern states, the Sierra Club, and other parties. The agreement allows AEP to achieve emission reduction goals while also shutting down Unit 1 without adding costly pollution control systems.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.14news.com/2019/07/19/coal-unit-shutting-down-rockport-power-plant/|title=Coal unit shutting down at Rockport Power Plant|last=Lyman|first=Jill|publisher=WFIE-TV|date=July 19, 2019|access-date=July 21, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aep.com/news/releases/read/1603/AEP-Receives-Approval-to-Modify-New-Source-Review-Consent-Decree|title=AEP Receives Approval to Modify New Source Review Consent Decree|last=McHenry|first=Melissa|publisher=AEP.com|date=July 18, 2019|access-date=July 21, 2019}}</ref>
In April 2021, AEP announced that Rockport's Unit 2 will also be retired by the end of 2028.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.14news.com/2021/04/24/energy-company-unveils-plan-fully-retire-rockport-power-plant/|title=Energy company unveils plan to fully retire Rockport power plant|last=|first=|publisher=WFIE|date=April 24, 2021|access-date=April 21, 2021}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Indiana|Energy}} * List of largest power stations in the United States * List of power stations in Indiana * List of tallest chimneys in the world
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?b5945 Chimney Diagram] *[http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/jan/28/coal-fired-plans-for-future-rockport-plant-to-to/]
{{Generating Stations in Indiana}} {{Supertall chimneys}}
Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1984 Category:Towers completed in 1984 Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1989 Category:Towers in Indiana Category:Coal-fired power stations in Indiana Category:Buildings and structures in Spencer County, Indiana Category:Southwestern Indiana Category:Chimneys in the United States Category:American Electric Power